For Idiots Who Want To Ban Racing
Read, and reconsider.
Last Shot
Tito Talao
A motorsport ban would be counterproductive (2005-09-07 21:08:04)
WE’VE BEEN hearing talk of a government plan to ban motorsports amid calls to conserve fuel and energy. We can’t say we didn’t expect this from the seemingly adhoc style of the present administration, especially in face of a crisis.
We fear for motorsports in this case because it would just be the kind of thinking one would expect from government planners no familiar with motor racing.
Let’s see. How do we conserve fuel? Why not ban motorsports? Participants just go around in circles anyway. And it’s been done in the seventies. Who cares for motorsports anyway? It’s only a sport for the frivolous rich, right?
But let’s take a look at the bigger picture. Will banning motorsports help the country conserve fuel? Of course, no racing, no fuel used up. But how much fuel would be saved?
According to motorsports industry estimates (yes, motorsports is now an industry), all local motorsports combined from circuit, 4x4 offroad, motocross, slalom, motorbike, karting, rallying, to scooter and drag racing consume less than 20,000 liters of fuel for all events in a year.
That’s less than the amount burned by vehicles in traffic-congested EDSA in a day.
Then what about the fuel crisis? Today’s fuel crisis is not the same as oil crisis of the seventies when government had to ban motorsport and ration gas. The seventies crisis was caused by the cartel of oil producing countries deliberately limiting the amount of fuel sold to countries.
Basically, there was just no fuel to go around. Motorsports was caught up in the shortage and banned, although.
Today’s crisis is in the main driven by the futures market which thrives on speculation. A fire in a refinery here, a political crisis in an oil producing country there, commodities traders drive up the price of oil to be produced in the future, pulling everything up with it, including pump prices in the present.
Who cares for motorsports? Well, a lot of people and we’re not just talking about motor racing enthusiasts, participants and spectators. We’re talking about race organizers, teams, mechanics, engineers, managers, drivers, race track owners, advertisers, marketers, manufacturers, a host of suppliers involved in the holding of races, all making a living or profit out of motorsports.
That’s what we mean when we say motor racing is now an industry. The local motorsports industry estimates that it employs more than 2,000 people. That means more than 2,000 taken out of the country’s employed and productive workforce if government bans motorsports.
The motorsports industry has also been a boon to other industries. Tourism benefits from motorsports. Whenever the country hosts an international event like the Asian Festival of Speed and Asian Formula 3 and others, it draws hundreds of foreign nationals to the country, not only the competitors but also their teams and crews, supporters and other race enthusiasts.
Motorsports has also contributed heroes to the OFW sector. Filipino mechanics, race and tire engineers and team managers are sought after by race teams in Asia and other parts of the world.
The industry is quite proud of the many homegrown mechanics and engineers now employed in top international racing teams competing in World Rally Championship, Formula Renault, Formula BMW, Porsche Carrera Cup and the Japan Grand Touring Championship. All of them developed their much sought after skills in local motorsports events.
A ban on motorsports would certainly affect the development of more pit mechanics and engineers who can be dollar earners for the country in future.
Instead of banning motorsports, government should use its popularity in promoting the use of alternative fuels such as cocodiesel and alcohol. Races could be organized with competitors using alternative fuels and fuel-blends.
The motorsports industry would certainly want to help government in this and even in promoting the need to make efficient use of fuel. After all, that is what motor racing is really all about, developing technology and products to maximize performance of vehicles. It certainly is not all about speed. Theres’ also the aspect of safety. A lot of safety features and equipment now standard in passenger cars have been developed and perfected on the racetrack.
Already, many young and not quite young local racers are now being idolized here and abroad for their performance on the racetrack. Racers like Glenn Aguilar, Tyson Sy, Dado Peña, Michelle Bumgarner, Mateo Guidicelli, and Pepon Marave all would certainly give the government a helping hand in promoting the need for conservation and the use of alternative fuels.
Banning motorsports would be counterproductive.
Last Shot
Tito Talao
A motorsport ban would be counterproductive (2005-09-07 21:08:04)
WE’VE BEEN hearing talk of a government plan to ban motorsports amid calls to conserve fuel and energy. We can’t say we didn’t expect this from the seemingly adhoc style of the present administration, especially in face of a crisis.
We fear for motorsports in this case because it would just be the kind of thinking one would expect from government planners no familiar with motor racing.
Let’s see. How do we conserve fuel? Why not ban motorsports? Participants just go around in circles anyway. And it’s been done in the seventies. Who cares for motorsports anyway? It’s only a sport for the frivolous rich, right?
But let’s take a look at the bigger picture. Will banning motorsports help the country conserve fuel? Of course, no racing, no fuel used up. But how much fuel would be saved?
According to motorsports industry estimates (yes, motorsports is now an industry), all local motorsports combined from circuit, 4x4 offroad, motocross, slalom, motorbike, karting, rallying, to scooter and drag racing consume less than 20,000 liters of fuel for all events in a year.
That’s less than the amount burned by vehicles in traffic-congested EDSA in a day.
Then what about the fuel crisis? Today’s fuel crisis is not the same as oil crisis of the seventies when government had to ban motorsport and ration gas. The seventies crisis was caused by the cartel of oil producing countries deliberately limiting the amount of fuel sold to countries.
Basically, there was just no fuel to go around. Motorsports was caught up in the shortage and banned, although.
Today’s crisis is in the main driven by the futures market which thrives on speculation. A fire in a refinery here, a political crisis in an oil producing country there, commodities traders drive up the price of oil to be produced in the future, pulling everything up with it, including pump prices in the present.
Who cares for motorsports? Well, a lot of people and we’re not just talking about motor racing enthusiasts, participants and spectators. We’re talking about race organizers, teams, mechanics, engineers, managers, drivers, race track owners, advertisers, marketers, manufacturers, a host of suppliers involved in the holding of races, all making a living or profit out of motorsports.
That’s what we mean when we say motor racing is now an industry. The local motorsports industry estimates that it employs more than 2,000 people. That means more than 2,000 taken out of the country’s employed and productive workforce if government bans motorsports.
The motorsports industry has also been a boon to other industries. Tourism benefits from motorsports. Whenever the country hosts an international event like the Asian Festival of Speed and Asian Formula 3 and others, it draws hundreds of foreign nationals to the country, not only the competitors but also their teams and crews, supporters and other race enthusiasts.
Motorsports has also contributed heroes to the OFW sector. Filipino mechanics, race and tire engineers and team managers are sought after by race teams in Asia and other parts of the world.
The industry is quite proud of the many homegrown mechanics and engineers now employed in top international racing teams competing in World Rally Championship, Formula Renault, Formula BMW, Porsche Carrera Cup and the Japan Grand Touring Championship. All of them developed their much sought after skills in local motorsports events.
A ban on motorsports would certainly affect the development of more pit mechanics and engineers who can be dollar earners for the country in future.
Instead of banning motorsports, government should use its popularity in promoting the use of alternative fuels such as cocodiesel and alcohol. Races could be organized with competitors using alternative fuels and fuel-blends.
The motorsports industry would certainly want to help government in this and even in promoting the need to make efficient use of fuel. After all, that is what motor racing is really all about, developing technology and products to maximize performance of vehicles. It certainly is not all about speed. Theres’ also the aspect of safety. A lot of safety features and equipment now standard in passenger cars have been developed and perfected on the racetrack.
Already, many young and not quite young local racers are now being idolized here and abroad for their performance on the racetrack. Racers like Glenn Aguilar, Tyson Sy, Dado Peña, Michelle Bumgarner, Mateo Guidicelli, and Pepon Marave all would certainly give the government a helping hand in promoting the need for conservation and the use of alternative fuels.
Banning motorsports would be counterproductive.
